See stories inside

$ 1 00 Volume 28 • Issue 2

by Kristin Guglietti GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

HAMMONTON — During the Hammonton Board of Education ’ s reorganization meeting on Jan . 2 , John Lyons was elected as school board president and Luke Coia was elected as vice president .

Board administrator Barbara Prettyman called the meeting to order and all board members were present at the Samuel A . Donio Memorial Library .

In the beginning of the meeting , there was a swearing in ceremony for the newly-elected board members Kelli Fallon , Michael Pullia and Raymond Scipione as well as for Waterford representative Roe Hunter .

After the swearing in ceremony and roll call , Prettyman thanked Robert Capoferri for his donations of manpower and materials for various projects throughout the district .

“ The district receives tremendous support from many people and countless organizations , but I feel like I ’ ve been remised by not publicly thanking one very special person Mr . Robert Capoferri . Year after year since well before I started in 2006 , Mr . Capoferri has donated manpower and materials for various projects throughout the district . To name just a few , Mr . Capoferri has facilitated repairs to our parking lots , instillation of our middle school track and most importantly provides his crew and equipment every winter to clear snow from our school parking lots and roads . His donations of manpower and materials have been extremely significant especially during our critically lean budget years , so again thank you Mr . Capoferri for all that you have done and continue to do for our district ,” Prettyman said .

When it was time to vote for a new school board president , Coia nominated Lyons and the majority voted “ yes ” to elect Lyons as president with board member Kelly Donio voting “ no .”

After Lyons was elected as president , it was time for nominations for vice president .

Donio nominated board member Linda Byrnes who was the previous vice president and

See SCHOOL , Page 8

Wednesday , January 10 , 2024 hammontongazette . com

Photo Courtesy of Michael Wuillermin

A single vehicle collision occurred on the morning of Jan . 9 , according to Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel . A dump truck hauling sand ran off the roadway , through a guardrail and came to rest in a three-foot ditch . The driver was transported by EMS complaining of pain , according to Friel . South Second Rd . was closed temporarily from 10th St . to 11th St .

Kristin Guglietti / THG

Kelli Fallon was sworn in by her husband , Chris , who stood next to their daughters Eleanor and Caroline .

by Mohammed Fuad GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

HAMMONTON — The 2024 Hammonton Town Council Reorganization meeting saw the appointment of councilmen , town officials and committeemen on Jan . 4 at town hall .

Tom Gribbin , Anthony Marino and Jonathan Oliva were sworn into town council . Local dignitaries in attendance included former New Jersey Superior Court Judge Michael Donio , former Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Nelson Johnson , former Town of Hammonton Judge Frank J . Raso , Atlantic County 5th District Commissioner James Bertino and Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel .

Gribbin was sworn in by Johnson and was also nominated by council as deputy mayor for 2024 . He thanked the mayor and council , his family , Johnson for administering his oath of office and the town for entrusting him . Gribbin added that he looks forward to working with Friel to provide tools to keep the town safe .

“ I look forward to working with the committee and council as we look forward to replacing a few of our town hall employees that will be retiring this year ,” Gribbin said .

“ I look forward to working with our chief and our law and order committee to provide our officers the tools necessary to keep Hammonton the safest town in South Jersey ,” he said .

Marino , who previously served on council 15 years ago and is happy to be serving again , was sworn in by commissioner Bertino .

“ It was a learning experience then but I feel a little bit more comfortable now coming back ,” Marino said .

See COUNCIL , Page 12

Mohammed Fuad / THG

Ana D . Morales , Yvonne Rodriguez and Elliott Nunez dressed up as the three kings and handed out gifts to children during the Three Kings Day event .

by Mohammed Fuad GAZETTE STAFF WRITER

HAMMONTON — The Puerto Rican Civic Association ( PRCA ) held their Three Kings ’ Day event at their clubhouse at 367 Old Forks Rd . on Jan . 7 . Three Kings Day , or Dio de Los Reyes in Spanish , is a Christian holiday celebrated as the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts . The holiday is celebrated in Central and Latin America , the Caribbean and some European countries .

See THREE KINGS , Page 4

Mohammed Fuad / THG

Councilmen Sam Rodio , Steven Furgione , Anthony Marino , Thomas Gribbin , Jonathan Oliva and councilwoman Renee Rodio with Mayor Stephen DiDonato during the Hammonton Town Council ’ s reorganization meeting on Jan . 4 .